Quote Of The Year

Timeless Quotes - Sadly The Late Paul Shetler - "Its not Your Health Record it's a Government Record Of Your Health Information"

or

H. L. Mencken - "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Monday, October 11, 2021

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 11 October, 2021.

Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.

General Comment

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The focus for me this week has been on Social Media and the harm it seems to be doing, driven by the profit motive. (Lots tomorrow.)

Otherwise the PHNs and their data / power / software grab is brewing nicely. These administrators need to back off I suspect!

Otherwise not much happening other than Genie being sold to PE.. Read on!

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/gps-call-doctorled-national-covid19-hotline

GPs call for doctor-led national COVID-19 hotline

It comes as Victoria says it will tell some patients of their positive diagnosis via text messages

5th October 2021

By Carmel Sparke

Prominent GPs have called for a national COVID-19 home healthcare service, warning current arrangements will be unable to cope with the number of cases likely to flood GP practices and hospitals.

Based on overseas experiences, Dr Nathan Pinskier says COVID-19 cases in Australia could jump to 10,000 to 15,000 a day once the nation reopens.

The Melbourne GP is proposing a dedicated 24/7 hotline staffed by doctors to provide a central point of contact, triage and support for patients.

“We know we have an immediate and acute problem which is inevitably going to get worse," he told 6minutes.

“General practices are really over-stretched. The same applies for hospitals, community health centres and ambulance services.

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https://www.theceomagazine.com/executive-interviews/healthcare-pharmaceutical/paul-richard/

07 October 2021 - 3:59 PM

“It’s About Early Detection.”: Paul Richard

In an age where we rely on devices to do everything from our banking to our weekly food shop, one crucial area has so far resisted the digital revolution – our health records. It’s an evolution that is well overdue, according to PRP Imaging CEO Paul Richard.

He believes digitalising healthcare processes is an essential pathway to better outcomes for patients. Originally from Ottawa in Canada, Paul arrived in Australia 26 years ago with a degree in chemical engineering. He initially worked for Mars, before moving into the healthcare sphere and discovering he had a passion for streamlining processes using patient data.

“Patient data sounds very bland and very sterile,” Paul admits. But in a world where retail data has generated billions of dollars for companies like Amazon, its value is undeniable. “It is seen as highly valuable. People pay billions of dollars for that data,” he stresses. “But no-one’s done anything smart and clever with it.”

It is a problem he is determined to fix. Dealing with patient data is, however, an entirely different ball game. The immense potential of this type of information lies not in profits but in health.

“In the retail space, it’s about selling more stuff, and growing revenue and profits,” Paul says. “Whereas in the patient environment, it’s about clinical outcomes – you actually save more lives, find more cancer, cure more people. It’s about early detection, early treatment and reduced cost to the healthcare community.”

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https://www.afr.com/street-talk/terms-out-for-250m-genie-solutions-float-20210929-p58vn1

Terms out for $250m Genie Solutions float

Anthony Macdonald, Yolanda Redrup and Kanika Sood

Sep 29, 2021 – 9.19am

The terms are set for practice management software provider Genie Solutions’ initial public offering, which will attract a seven times forward-looking sales multiple.

The IFM Investors-backed company is understood to be asking for $2 per share, giving it a market capitalisation around $250 million.

The price leaves some value on the table for IPO investors, with pre-deal reports from analysts at its sponsor brokers RBC Capital Markets and E&P Corporate Advisory suggesting it could be valued as high as 8.9-times forecast sales, which would give it a market capitalisation around $300 million.

The business will have a 58 per cent free float, with the remaining shares owned by IFM, the Carr family (the founding shareholders), and management.

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https://www.afr.com/street-talk/pep-s-citadel-snaps-up-ifm-s-float-candidate-genie-solutions-20211003-p58wrg

PEP’s Citadel snaps up IFM’s float candidate Genie Solutions

Anthony Macdonald, Yolanda Redrup and Kanika Sood

Oct 3, 2021 – 9.34pm

IFM Investors has a deal to sell its medical practice software business Genie Solutions to Pacific Equity Partners owned software and services company, The Citadel Group.

Only days out from taking institutional investor bids for a Genie Solutions’ mooted $250 million sharemarket float, its owners have cancelled the IPO plans and instead cut a deal with Citadel.

The deal, which could be announced as early as this week, is understood to value Genie Solutions at more than the targeted IPO price, and would allow financial investor IFM Investors to cash in its chips in full.

Genie Solutions’ management, who own a minority stake, are expected to retain some of their exposure to the business.

The deal’s expected to see IFM Investors record a hefty payday. The firm’s private equity unit paid about $55 million for the software company in 2017 and four years later will sell it for about five-times that price. IFM’s head of PE, and former CHAMP Ventures dealmaker, Stuart Wardman-Browne, and colleague David Odgers are on Genie Solutions’ board.

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https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/asia/australia-based-citadel-group-buys-practice-management-solution-provider-genie-solutions

Australia-based Citadel Group buys practice management solution provider Genie Solutions

Citadel intends to invest in innovation to extend Genie's position in practice management.

By Adam Ang

October 04, 2021 05:05 am

Genie Solutions, a medical practice management software provider in Australia, has been acquired by the Citadel Group.

This comes as the company has shelved its initial public offering plan and instead cut a deal with the enterprise software firm, according to a news report.

WHY IT MATTERS

Founded in 1995, Genie Solutions offers two practice management software. One is Genie, a desktop product that provides medical professionals access to clinical, demographic and account records directly from an appointment book; it also allows them to access fee schedules and set custom fees to ensure the correct billed amount. 

The other is cloud software Gentu, which helps reduce human error and enhance workflow through automated batching and receipting claims. 

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https://wildhealth.net.au/genie-sale-highlights-cloud-vs-legacy-pms-paradigm-shift/

7 October 2021

Genie sale highlights cloud vs legacy PMS paradigm shift

Cloud DoH Money Technology

By Jeremy Knibbs

The sale of PMS vendor Genie Solutions to Citadel could help it significantly consolidate its leadership position in the specialist and hospital market, and perhaps even set it on course to perturb the slow moving GP sector.

On Friday night, Genie Solutions CEO James Scollay went to bed thinking he needed a good long weekend rest for a hectic coming week, where the company would be moving on its IPO plans.

By Sunday night the Citadel group had intervened and acquired the company privately. The press release came out first thing Monday morning, long weekend and NRL grand final hangovers notwithstanding. 

Scollay wasn’t the only one surprised. No one saw Citadel coming (except perhaps some executives high up IFM private equity, which was selling).

If you had to choose between all the expense, distraction and hassle of an IPO (and the subsequent politics, governance and scrutiny of being public), and getting scooped up by a private company with money, aspiration, an international footprint, and quite a lot of synergy, the choice is pretty easy.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nib-switches-on-voicebot-in-its-support-centre-570854

Nib switches on 'voicebot' in its support centre

By Kate Weber on Oct 6, 2021 11:50AM

Powered by Amazon and open source components.

Health insurer nib has launched a 'voicebot' as the first point of contact for customers that call in with a question or issue.

Called nibby voice, the 'voicebot' is expected to assist with automating basic conversations, improving operational efficiency and member experience.  

The voicebot acts as the primary contact when calling nib’s support centre and can conduct privacy checks and ask for standard customer information before transferring members to a consultant.

nibby voice was built using the Amazon Connect cloud contact centre platform, Amazon Lex and open source AI platform Rasa.

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/telehealth-crackdown-not-feasible-reject-gp-medicare-claims-says-dept

Telehealth crackdown: Not feasible to reject GP Medicare claims, says dept

Many doctors have asked why 'inappropriate claims' cannot be identified when they are lodged

7th October 2021

By Siobhan Calafiore

A Medicare block that automatically rejects GPs' incorrect telehealth claims is “not feasible” in the current system, federal health officials say.  

RACGP president Dr Karen Price has backed the idea to stop doctors falling foul of the 'existing-relationship' rule without the need for audits or damaging compliance campaigns. 

The argument is that Medicare’s online claims system could instantly determine if a patient has seen a doctor at the practice for a face-to-face consult in the previous 12 months based on MBS records. 

“It is up to the Department of Health to create the environment in which meeting compliance obligations is easy and stress free,” she said this week. 

But the department has rejected the proposal, saying, because it could not identify those patients who are exempt to the existing relationship rule, such as those who are homeless or living in a COVID-19 hotspot, some would end up with claims being rejected unfairly. 

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https://www.innovationaus.com/innovationaus-2021-awards-medtech-and-biotech-finalists-revealed/

InnovationAus 2021 Awards: Medtech and Biotechnology finalists


Staff Writers
InnovationAus

5 October 2021

There has never been more attention on Australia’s medtech and biotechnology industry, with the COVID-19 pandemic shining a spotlight on the sector and its importance to the country’s health and economy.

Australia already has a global reputation for medtech and biotech innovations, our research community and commercialisation output. The sector contributes significantly to the domestic economy, and governments at all levels are providing unprecedented levels of funding and support.

The sector has proved crucial in Australia’s response to the pandemic, from the development of rapid testing to the manufacturing of vaccines. 

The 2021 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence MedTech and BioTechnology category celebrates innovative companies in this space. The finalists for 2021 include a company utilising the power of light to combat COVID-19 and other pathogens, Australia’s most trusted video telehealth platform helping remote consultations happen, and a company working with the aged care workforce to improve health outcomes for older Australians.

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https://www.smh.com.au/business/entrepreneurship/beyond-vaccine-bookings-homegrown-healthengine-branches-out-20211003-p58wqc.html

Beyond vaccine bookings: Homegrown HealthEngine branches out

By Emma Koehn

October 4, 2021 — 5.00am

Online health directory HealthEngine has spent the past year connecting thousands of Australians to COVID-19 vaccines, but the business, which launched with the goal of competing with Google in the healthcare space, now has prescription medicine delivery in its sights.

HealthEngine, which was founded in 2006 by Marcus Tan, Adam Yap and Darius Wey, has had an eventful 18 months. In August 2020, it was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $2.9 million for misleading and deceptive conduct for sharing patient information with insurance brokers and publishing misleading ratings of practices on its platforms.

By March 2021, the Telstra Ventures and Seven West Media-backed company had convinced the department of health it had overhauled its systems and was awarded a $4 million federal government contract to build a national COVID-19 vaccine booking platform.

Dr Tan said the court action against the company was painful, but the situation came about because of outdated business systems rather than any malicious behaviour. Confronting the errors and overhauling its processes put HealthEngine in a better position to win contracts like for vaccine bookings.

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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/582301/Digital-health-identity-service-piloted.htm

Digital health identity service piloted

Monday, 4 October 2021  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

A new consumer digital identity service, My Health Account, is being piloted as part of the release of My COVID Record.

My Health Account is being developed to support the release of the My COVID Record website, which will provide secure access to Covid-19 vaccine and testing records.

Darren Douglass, GM digital strategy and investment at the Ministry of Health, says it will be further developed to support Ministry Covid and other national digital services and across the sector through the Hira (National Health Information Platform) programme.

“The design is what we will leverage for Hira and other services going forward,” he explains.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/582290/Dashboard-identifies-unvaccinated-in-Southern-region.htm

Dashboard identifies unvaccinated in Southern region

Monday, 4 October 2021  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

A new Covid-19 Vaccination Coverage dashboard is identifying unvaccinated people and populations in the Southern region so providers can reach out and help them get the jab.

WellSouth PHO is providing the dashboard to general practices in its network as a tool for finding unvaccinated people and helping them to get their first or second dose.
 
Thalamus, from Datacraft, is a data and information support tool and this latest dashboard uses data drawn directly from the  CIR (Covid Immunisation Registrar) each day and blended with patient management system data.
  
WellSouth chief digital officer Damon Campbell says identifying and contacting unvaccinated patients, or those who have only had a single dose, is increasingly important as the region works to reach hard-to-engage populations and those who may be vaccine hesitant.

The dashboards are also made available to other organisations, such as local Māori health providers,  to ensure everyone is “on the same page” when it comes to the data. Campbell says one of the benefits of Thalamus is that this can be done without revealing practice or patient identifiable data.
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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/leveraging-ai-and-automation-to-save-lives-1107486794

Leveraging AI and automation to save lives

Schneider Electric

Monday, 04 October, 2021


The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched healthcare systems to their limits and highlighted the need for digital innovation within our hospital facilities.

Amidst the struggles to suppress the outbreak, technological leaders have continued to develop smart healthcare solutions to improve patient outcomes, using automation and AI to ultimately save lives.

“Being able to predict a medical issue could have a life-or-death outcome,” said Daniel Garcia Gil, a Solution Architect with automation and digital solutions corporation Schneider Electric. “If you use an early-warning system that constantly monitors a patient’s vital signs, this system could automatically detect whether or not the patient is at risk of developing a serious medical condition.”

By integrating a range of digital solutions within a healthcare facility’s assessment workflow — from automating patient monitoring to predict treatment, to digital systems to improve staff efficiency and workload — hospitals have the capacity to improve patient care and comfort as well as reduce critical care scenarios.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/aged-allied-health/news/healius-partners-with-philips-to-deploy-digital-pathology-solution-328600987

Healius partners with Philips to deploy digital pathology solution

Wednesday, 29 September, 2021


Royal Philips, a global health technology player, has partnered with Healius Pathology, an Australian provider of private medical laboratory and pathology services, to deploy a multisite digital pathology solution.

Digital pathology aims to reduce pressure on pathology services by streamlining workflow and extending collaboration to increase diagnostic confidence. The Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution will initially be rolled out through Healius Pathology's National Pathology Division with the goal of providing easy and immediate access to medical and veterinary pathology information across the business, allowing clinicians to make timely decisions about patient care.

A pathological review of patient tissue has historically been done using a microscope. Pathologists can now gain new insights through real-time collaboration with Image Management System (IMS) software and algorithms designed to aid, streamline and maximise diagnostic confidence. The Philips solution will allow Healius pathologists to digitise their workflow with consistently high image quality and fast first time right scanning capabilities.

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/partnership-lead-identified-position/258

Partnership Lead - Identified Position

APS6 ($99,860 - $112,659)
Digital Programs and Engagement Division > Communications
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 11 Oct 2021

Division overview

Digital programs and engagement – responsible for external relationships, implementation and change and adoption, as well as being the place of excellence for driving program delivery, reporting and outcomes.

Primary purpose of position

The APS6 Partnership Lead position is an APS6 classified position and is an ‘identified position’. This signifies that the role has a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and must have the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People’.

The APS6 Partnership Lead is accountable under limited direction to perform complex work with external partners and key stakeholders to ensure the effective and sustainable implementation of the National Digital Health Strategy. Key stakeholders may include clinical and consumer peak organisations, industry, primary health networks and government. They will exercise both initiative and judgment in the application of practices and procedures in order to provide technical, professional, and/or policy advice in relation to complex problems.

The APS6 Partnerships Lead will assist in the delivery of strategic outcomes, coordinating program and project management, working across a diverse range of stakeholders to identify and deliver mutually beneficial initiatives aligned to the National Digital Health Strategy.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/three-critical-ways-to-keep-your-data-healthy-1055272270

Three critical ways to keep your data healthy

Dell Technology

By Lucas Salter, General Manager, Data Protection Solutions, Asia Pacific & Japan, Dell Technologies
Thursday, 07 October, 2021

Working with large datasets, the health industry has embraced artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve challenges in everything from patient care, medical imaging, diagnosis to genetic analysis and drug research and development. This critical and valuable data needs to be handled with the utmost care and kept securely to comply with government regulations and to protect patient confidentiality.

The correct handling and storage of this data is a concern for many in the sector. According to a recent survey by Dell Technologies1, 74% of health industry decision-makers say they struggle to find suitable data protection for their AI and machine learning solutions. These evolving technologies will contribute to already ever-growing datasets with Statista reporting that the total amount of data consumed globally will reach 180 zettabytes in 2025, up from 64.2 zettabytes this year2.

Data faces a range of threats — from cyber attacks, to human error, to technical glitches. When a business is unable to access the data that’s driving business services, it causes a ripple effect. Departments are unable to work, money is lost and the IT team has to down tools to get systems back online.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/clinical-services/article/how-technology-is-changing-maternity-care-1255565355

How technology is changing maternity care

By David Groberman, CEO, HeraMED
Thursday, 07 October, 2021

What a time to be in health care. With the rise of personalised care, home monitoring and telehealth, specifically, during the pandemic, we are witnessing a transformation in the way doctors and nurses interact with and care for patients.

By bringing greater efficiency and convenience to the doctor–patient relationship, this new standard is allowing the medical community to redesign current models of care. This, in turn, is creating opportunities for medical technology companies like ours to provide innovative solutions for delivering on that vision.

Consumers, for their part, have shown they’re on board and expect telehealth services to remain post-pandemic. Like the disruption we’ve seen in media, hotels and taxis, the next generation of general practitioners, specialists and hospitals will need to meet this expectation to remain sustainable. The slogan of this new model of care is: ‘The patient will see you now’. But I'd like to offer an extension of it as, ‘Health in the palm of your hand’.

Of course some fields evolve more easily compared to others. Take maternity care, for example.

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https://www.itwire.com/home-it/windows-11-arrives,-claimed-to-be-start-of-a-new-era-for-the-pc.html

Windows 11 arrives, claimed to be start of a new era for the PC

By Sam Varghese

Microsoft has released Windows 11, with the company's chief product officer for Windows + Devices, Panos Panay, describing it as the start of a new era for the PC.

"As the day becomes 5 October in each time zone around the world, availability of Windows 11 begins through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs pre-installed with Windows 11 that can be purchased beginning today," he said in a blog post.

Panay claimed Windows was a driving force for innovation. "It’s an enduring platform for each one of us to create. And its home for over a billion people to do their jobs, live their dreams and connect with the people they love," he said.

"We’re pumped to be launching Windows 11; the entire user experience brings you closer to what you love, empowers you to produce and inspires you to create."Windows 11 provides a sense of calm and openness. It gives you a place that feels like home. It’s secure and everything is designed to be centered around you.

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Enjoy!

David.

 

7 comments:

Bernard Robertson-Dunn said...

There is a debate in progress on the UK site The Register

The motion is "Opt-out is the right approach for sharing your medical records with researchers"

This is the first of four postings, two for and two against

https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/11/healthcare_privacy_debate_for1_monday/

It's from Dr Katherine Hanks, a GP based in Australia..

You can vote for or against until Thursday night UK time, results on Friday

If you vote you get to see the running count. As of just now it is 15% for and 85% against from 361 votes.

The comments (60 so far) are worth reading.

Anonymous said...

Re Windows 11.
Not everyone is happy with Microsoft and Windows 11.

Life's better together when you avoid Windows 11
https://www.fsf.org/news/lifes-better-together-when-you-avoid-windows-11

Caveat Emptor

Long Live T.38 said...

Thanks Bernard. The comments section does paint a similar picture as we had here in Australia. All smoke and mirrors with it’s true intent buried under emotive bollocks.

I am sure the NHS bosses will completely ignore everyone’s concerns and push ahead regardless just as the did here.

Bernard Robertson-Dunn said...

Part two of the Register debate is here:
Patients must know how their health records are used – and approve any sharing for research
https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/12/healthcare_privacy_debate_against1_tuesday/

The poll numbers are
For: 16%
Against: 84%
909 Cast Votes

As usual the comments are worth a read.
https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2021/10/12/healthcare_privacy_debate_against1_tuesday/

G. Carter said...

Newsflash: if it's assumed, it isn't consent. - that comment sum up the whole rotten endeavour. What is we ran society on assumptions?? For starters I would assume everything would be fine and no one gets harmed

Bernard Robertson-Dunn said...

Part Three of the Register Debate

https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/13/healthcare_privacy_debate_wednesday/

Comments here
https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2021/10/13/healthcare_privacy_debate_wednesday/

Poll numbers
For:
24%
Against:
76%
1378 Cast Votes

An observation about this argument for the motion "Assumed consent is the right approach for sharing healthcare patients’ data, beyond their direct care. Or to put it another way: patient records should be shared with medical researchers on an opt-out basis."

The word consent is not used at all. "opt out" is used once in the context of "We don’t, for the most part, anonymise ourselves with VPNs nor opt out of marketing cookies."

Bernard Robertson-Dunn said...

Part 4 of the debate

https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/14/healthcare_privacy_debate_against2_thursday/

Comments

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2021/10/14/healthcare_privacy_debate_against2_thursday/

Poll numbers
For:
24%
Against:
76%
1726 Cast Votes